Minnesota Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Who pays a Minnesota rider's medical bills after a crash?

Not always the same insurer that would pay a car driver. Minnesota's no-fault system is built around cars and trucks, and motorcycle policies are not required to include the same PIP benefits.

Many riders have three possible sources early on:

• optional PIP coverage, if it was purchased on the motorcycle policy,
• health insurance, which often becomes the main payer,
• medical payments coverage, if selected.

The liability claim against the at-fault driver then becomes the main path to full compensation. Because coverage terms vary from policy to policy, we read the actual declarations and policy language for the motorcycle and any household auto policies before telling a rider what is available. Your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can also matter when the driver who hit you carried little insurance.

Does Minnesota's helmet law affect a claim?

Minnesota requires helmets for riders under 18 and for anyone riding on an instruction permit. Adults with a full endorsement may ride without one, though eye protection rules still apply.

When an adult rider chose not to wear a helmet, the defense may argue that some head injuries would have been less severe. That argument is about the extent of certain injuries, not about who caused the crash. It has little to say about broken legs, spinal injuries or road rash. We look at the medical evidence carefully to separate the injuries a helmet could not have prevented.

How does fault get decided in a Minnesota motorcycle crash?

Fault is assigned by percentage. A rider can recover if their fault is not greater than the driver's, and the award is reduced by the rider's share.

Here is a worked example. A driver turns left across a rider's path on Highway 61 near Two Harbors. A jury values the rider's losses at $250,000 and assigns 40 percent fault to the rider for speed. The rider recovers $150,000. If the jury had found the rider 60 percent at fault, the rider would recover nothing. Speed estimates from witnesses are often wrong, so we rely on reconstruction evidence such as skid marks, crush damage and video.

The most common causes we see:

1. Left-turning drivers who misjudge a motorcycle's speed or never see it.
2. Lane changes into a rider in a blind spot on metro freeways.
3. Rear-end collisions at stoplights and in construction zones.
4. Drivers pulling out of driveways and side roads on rural highways.

Where do Minnesota motorcycle crashes tend to happen?

Many happen on the scenic roads that draw riders in summer and fall. Others happen in metro traffic, where drivers are distracted and congestion is heavy.

The North Shore along Lake Superior, the Great River Road along the Mississippi and the bluff country of southeastern Minnesota attract riders and tourists. Curves, gravel washing onto the road, deer and drivers slowing for scenic views all create risk. The riding season is short, so traffic on these roads is concentrated. Early in spring, potholes and leftover sand from winter make roads slippery. A crash caused by a road defect may involve a city or county, which requires notice within 180 days.

Metro riding brings a different set of hazards. Commuters on I-94, I-35W and the beltways change lanes quickly in heavy traffic, and summer construction narrows lanes and adds uneven pavement and steel plates that can upset a motorcycle. Crashes with delivery vans and semis on these routes often involve blind spots, which our truck accident team investigates with the carrier's own camera and logging data.

What damages can an injured Minnesota rider recover?

A rider who proves the driver's fault can recover economic and noneconomic losses, reduced by any share of fault.

• Medical bills, rehabilitation and future care.
• Lost wages and reduced earning ability.
• The motorcycle, helmet and riding gear.
• Pain, scarring, emotional distress and lost enjoyment of life.

Riders often face bias from adjusters who assume motorcyclists take risks. Helmet camera video, witness statements and a clean riding record help answer that assumption. Our motorcycle accident practice prepares each case with that bias in mind. For crashes involving cars, our Minnesota car accident page explains the no-fault threshold, and our Minnesota injury overview covers other state rules. We offer a free case review, and you pay no fee unless we win.